Page 76 - Demo

interest when he mastered the game and quickly moved on to another sport to accept a fresh challenge%u201d concluding that %u201cIf he had concentrated on any one of the games, he would have been ranked in India%u201d. In short, he never put on swank and was a %u201ctrue sportsman both on and off the field%u201d who was able to talk to his teammates because he was %u201ca man bereft of pride or prejudice%u201d.The War dominated the news and so did the 1942 Quit India Movement. The British moved violently tosuppress it, and there was intense resentment at the savagery that ensued. By this time, his mother, the Rajmata had a palatial house built on Nungambakkam High Road. However, both the young prince and his younger brother stayed at the homely Bosotto Brothers hotel on Mount Road. This was because of the lingering after-effects of the Court of Wards case. Both were 'permanent guests' with their own suites, still nominally under the supervision of the Court.However, it could not be said to be an onerous imposition. The Court ordered that the prince received, as heir, a monthly allowance of Rs 25,000/- a truly astounding amount for those days, more so for a student. Needless to add, being true to princely form, the amount was blown up before the end of the month. The long-term effect of the Court of Wards case meant they both brothers were emotionally distant from their mother who would pass away in 1956. The Second World War was winding to a close. In the North-East, the Japanese were attempting to break through. 66